Stokes’ five-wicket haul puts England on brink of Ashes triumph

England will take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with one more match to be played at the Oval from August 20.

For those living without phone, internet or television aerial connections, I’m talking about the 11 national representatives who were masquerading as batsmen at the Trent Bridge cricket ground in Nottingham.

My performances have been nowhere near the level and standard they need to be to be an Australian cricketer and captain.

He said: “I’m just proud I’ve hung in (through) the really tough times and have managed to stay true to a lot of my principles as a bloke and as a player – thinking I was a right man for the job”.

Asked if it had been a tour too far for an ageing squad, branded “Dad’s Army”, he said: “Maybe for the captain”.

With an Ashes series on the line, our team of our so-called best players turned their toes up when the going got tough and all but handed the mother country the match and series in the space of two hours.

“I know it sounds a bit silly when you are 2-1 up – but the pressure was on here, on that first morning”.

“We’re in an unbelievable position”, Stokes told reporters.

“I’ve read that, but the selectors did not speak to me at all about being dropped or standing down or retiring”, he said. Retirement isn’t the hardest decision when you perform as I have performed over the last series.

Stokes took advantage of favourable conditions in a spell of 3-16 off seven overs around tea that swung the game England’s way after Australia openers Chris Rogers and David Warner had added 113 for the first wicket.

Clarke had already stepped away from the one-day captaincy earlier this year, though he did so on a high having led the side to World Cup glory on home turf.

Clarke was adamant the outcome of the Trent Bridge Test, for the team as well as himself, would have no bearing on his intention to continue to play Test cricket.

The scratchy 13 followed his first innings 10, which ended with an absurd swipe at a loose Stuart Broad delivery when his team desperately needed a cautious captain’s knock rather than a free-wheeling assault befitting a tail-end slogger. “For me it was about giving everything I had to the team and I think I’ve done that”, he said.

It completed a remarkable transformation by England, which was beaten 5-0 Down Under 18 months ago to relinquish the urn and spark a change in coach and personnel.

“And beating England was always nice”.

His opposite number Alastair Cook, who was perceived to be the skipper most fearful for his future, paid tribute to his rival.

Or are they our best Test match batsmen we have available?